Japan blue-chip stocks gain, but Topix edges down

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japan's blue-chip stocks clung to gains in early Friday trading, as a weaker yen boosted exporters to support a 0.3%gain for the Nikkei Stock Average
NIK, -0.90%
to 15,381.02, even as the broader Topix slipped 0.1%. Strong U.S. retail-sales data released overnight helped push the dollar
USDJPY, +0.17%
back above 103 yen, while the euro
EURJPY, +0.29%
rose to a fresh post-crisis high around 142.30 yen. Some exporters pulled higher on the forex moves, with Olympus Corp.
7733, -1.59%OCPNF, +1.30%
up 1.4%, Hitachi Construction Macheriny Co.
6305, -0.24%HTCMF, +5.38%
adding 1.1%, Tokyo Electron Ltd.
8035, -1.12%TOELF, -0.96%
up 1.9%, and Mazda Motor Corp.
7261, -0.60%MZDAF, -3.99%
ahead by 1%, even as most other auto makers traded lower. Among the retailers, Fast Retailing Co.
9983, -0.67%FRCOF, -2.87%
rose 0.8%, possibly helped by the U.S. retail numbers, but FamilyMart Co.
8028, +0.00%FYRTF, +19.68%
lost 0.1% as the Nikkei Asian Review said the firm would post a mild 1% gain in nine-month operating profit through November. Disappointing earnings from Tokyo Dome Corp.
9681, +0.52%
sent its shares down 2%, while Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.
2502, -1.68%ASBRF, +3.39%
rose 2.4% following a Reuters report that it plans to launch a premium version of its Super Dry beer in Japan to take advantage of a growing market for upmarket brands.

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